Tafoya, Shawn

Shawn Tafoya was born to parents Joseph Tafoya and Lucy Year Flower in 1968. His father was from Santa Clara Pueblo but he grew up mostly in his mother’s home at Pojoaque Pueblo. Among his siblings are Myra Little Snow, Kelli Little Kachina and Forrest Tafoya.

In his early years, Shawn spent a lot of time with his grandfather, Camilio Tafoya. He made his first piece of artwork when he was about 5. As a teenager he began earning awards for his innovative pottery and for his innovative embroidery. He’s a graduate of the Institute for American Indian Arts and was awarded the Ron and Susan Dubin Fellowship at the School for Advanced Research in 1996. He’s earned numerous awards for his pottery and for his embroidery since. He has also often taught courses at the Poeh Center in Pojoaque as part of an Indian Vocational Education Program.